"If my life wasn't funny, it would have to be true"

After not having been to the theatre in the first several months since moving here, we have now seen our 3rd show in 2 weeks. However, this one is set apart from the others because it was Opening Night.  This meant the red carpet was rolled out, the paparazzi had us pose, and diet cokes were $4.50.

Wishful Drinking is Carrie Fisher's one woman show based on her own life, after her memoir of the same title. The show is a dark comedy that covers a wide range of topics including hollywood inbreeding, her diagnosed manic depressive disorder, alcoholism, divorce, death, and of course Star Wars.

Carrie Fisher opens the show singing 'Happy Days are Here Again', throwing glitter on the patrons seated in the front row, all while negative tabloid headlines are broadcasted on the screen behind her. Making fun of the 'tragedy' was definitely the common theme.  The wardrobe department also did not have to stretch with this show as her dress for the entire evening comprised of pajamas, a robe, and slippers.

Something else not to be overlooked is that the show is playing at Studio 54, which itself holds a lot of history. So, to sum it up - free opening night tickets to a Broadway show staring Princess Leia at Studio 54.  It could not have scripted better.  Well, i should have walked away when they said $4.50 for a coke, but other than that...

(since there is no photography allowed during the show, this picture has been borrowed from Jan Marcus via Broadway World)

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Adultery, Betrayal, and Alter Egos

Paige found out that a close girlfriend of her's was in a play just across the river in Jersey, so we went to check it out.  Paige has been friends with Rachel since middle school, however they have lived in different states since graduating high school.  It was a great reunion, and it will be fun getting to know her since she now lives on the island as well.

Passion was written by Peter Nichols in 1981 and originally performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company.  The play is about a middle aged couple that must come to grips with adultery and betrayal.  The ensemble cast is comprised of 6 actors and live music performed by saxophonist Kevin Gosa.  The play uses alter egos in the way that I have not seen before.  There are 2 main characters in the play, and 2 additional characters that serve as their alter egos.  The alter egos can sometimes only be heard by their other half, and in other instances the alter egos can interact with themselves.  It was a great mechanism to give the story more depth.

I greatly enjoyed viewing the play and welcome future opportunities to see Rachel's work!

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Hakuna Matata

September hosts Back 2 Broadway in NYC to welcome the new season.  The event allows free tours in select theatres, a festival in Times Square where they preview shows, concerts, etc.  We were out of town or busy for most events, however we were able to tour the Minskoff Theatre.

The Minskoff Theatre, designed by Kahn and Jacobs, was built in 1973 and is located on 45th and Broadway.  It has been the host to musicals, dance companies, concerts, and even the Miss Universe pageant in 1981.  The Minskoff is a post war theatre and built on the premise that what is on stage should take, well, center stage.  The walls were left white and bare.  The only design element were the silver domes for the lights.  In fact Kahn and Jacobs specifically requested it remain this way and for interior "desecrators" to never touch his design.

However, their wishes had to be ignored when the theatre began housing The Lion King.  According to our proctor it took six months to refurbish the theatre in order to house the show.  The main lobby now features hand painted, gold-leaf sculpted tablets and large colorful murals.  On the escalator wall there is a large (~30 feet tall) wooden lion face on a red wall.  The theatre is no longer void of decorations, completely the opposite.

Personally, I still prefer the character and charm of an old theatre.  But it's all the same when the lights go down right?

 

After Miss Julie

After Miss Julie is currently in previews at the Roundabout Theatre in Times Square and will be showing through December 6th.  We were fortunate enough to receive comp tickets to last night's performance and had excellent seats.  It was also special because it was the first show we've been able to see since moving to New York.

After Miss Julie is set in a large country estate outside of London in July, 1945. The British Labour Party had just won their famous landslide election victory over Winston Churchill's Conservative party promising radical change and reform.  The production features Sienna Miller as Miss Julie, a young woman who seduces her wealthy father's chauffeur, whom is soon to marry another woman. (Personally, I found this somewhat ironic because this isn't too far from her recent paparazzi captured rendezvous with a married Balthazar Getty)  The chauffeur is played by Johnny Lee Miller, whom you may recall as Sick Boy from Trainspotting and the lead in the sitcom, Eli Stone.  Marin Ireland, a Tony Award nominee, plays the scorned woman and has been in numerous theatre productions.

We really liked the play and were really happy we were able to see it.  It was nice to see formal theatre as the last shows we've seen have been musicals and theatrical displays (i.e. Stomp, Avenue Q, Fuerzabrutta, etc).  Here there was nothing to hide behind and talent takes center stage.  I found Sienna's performance very honest and believable for her largest theatrical role.  I thought Marin Ireland shined in her role, with her experience being very evident in her facial expressions, tone, and stage presence during silent scenes.

(pics to be uploaded soon)

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